Things

• Bud’s surgery went amazingly well yesterday. Better than I could have imagined. For one, they only had to take out the extra tooth, when they planned on taking his 2 front teeth along with it. For another, they just yanked it out. Like, with pliers. I couldn’t watch. So, he is on a diet of soft foods until Saturday while he heels, but he is really no worse for the wear. I took before and after shots, but there are at home. Here is a picture of the actual tooth, which I guess was the rarest kind they usually see. The pointed part is the root. Creepy, right? I’m just glad it’s out of there.

• In other dental news, Bud has his first loose tooth, AND we can see his 2 bottom permanent teeth on the way. I can’t believe it!• We have a kindergarten orientation picnic on Friday and Bud officially goes to school next Thursday. The bus stopped by the other day mapping out it’s route. I can’t say for certain that we will let him take the bus on the very first day. How will he know where to go? This is very stressful from a parent’s perspective. I feel like I am sending my boy out on his own or something. At least when Lucy goes next year, she’ll have Bud to show her the way.• Speaking of Lucy, she turned 4 last week and I’m sorry to say that there was no change in her behavior as she changed from 3 to 4. She is, perhaps, more dramatic. We bought her Hello Kitty rain boots that she refuses, I mean REFUSES to take off. I would not allow her to wear them to the county fair last Thursday because it was 95 humid degrees outside and she pouted most of the day. We were caught in a rain storm on our way out of the fairgrounds. After finally making it to the truck, she cried indignantly “See Mom! I told you I should have worn my RAIN BOOTS!” Yes, I suppose she should have.

• We went to the library Saturday, where Bud got his library card and we took out our first chapter book, which we’ve been reading at bed time. Liv had a great time too.• We went on a picnic Saturday, just on a whim, and I threw the kids’ water shoes in the car because there is a rocky brook at the park, where Hub and I used to wander when we camped. After lunch, all 3 of the kids took to the water. Imagine my surprise when Liv was the most enthusiastic of all of them. She was genuinely pissed when I made her hold my hand as she navigated the rocks and water. She is a dare devil, that is for sure.• Finally, I will leave you with some photos from the girls’ big birthday bash. We had a great day, and the only glitch was trying to facilitate the opening of gifts between both girls. Next year, I will definitely ask for a second set of hands. (contrary to popular belief, Bud was at the party. He was just off with his cousins all day, and not in any photos)

GOSH that teefie looks creepy.I was just about GALACTIC with panic before my firstborn took the bus the first time. BUT! I recommend having him do it the first day if you can stand it, because on the first day everyone KNOWS no one knows what's going on, so the teachers meet the bus and there are helpers to make sure every single child goes the right place.After the first day, our schools have the kids wear necklaces or clips that say what bus the child takes, which teacher the child has, etc., with the child's name and address on the back. They do this for the first couple/few weeks. This was reassuring, too.Also, at my kids' school, one thing a lot of parents do is put the child on the bus and then follow it. Like, so they can make sure everything's okay on the other end, but so the child also has the experience of doing it himself/herself.

No Whey Mama-We are reading ‘Holy Enchilada’ by Henry Winkler…which is a little bit over Bud’s head, but we are enjoying it anyway. I just keep stopping to ask him questions to make sure he is paying attention. He picked it from the “easy” chapter book section and I didn’t want to tell him no.

I love that picture of Diva Lucy. We really must get Maggie and Lucy together – they would either be best of friends or tear each other apart!I totally did the follow-the-bus thing (on the second day – I went with each of them on the first day). Our school only has one bus, so it's not that scary.

Oh, I boo hoo'd all the way back to the house after putting my oldest on the bus for his first day of kindergarten. But I had called the school, met with the teacher, called and harrassed the bus driver, just so I would feel better about it. I think Swistle has a point in it might be best to do it on a day when everyone is super watchful than on a day when the teachers are thinking, "Oh, they did this yesterday. They should be ok."And lordy girl, ya'll know how to throw a party. Look at all that food. Mmmm.

At our school, they have the parents come with the kids on the very first kindergarten day, so there is no bus pick-up/drop-off (and it's only for about an hour and a half). After that, the kid gets a badge pinned to them for the first few days. Helps us ALL maintain our sanity.And yes, there is always a pack of adults/teachers around to help the kids those first few days. Nerve-wracking, isn't it?